Top Dems back indicted lawmaker’s opponent

CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn on Sunday became the latest high-profile Illinois Democrat to back the candidate running against expelled state Rep. Derrick Smith.

Quinn and Secretary of State Jesse White appeared at a news conference on the city’s West Side to back Chicago attorney Lance Tyson, a candidate chosen by Democrats after Smith was indicted on federal bribery charges and refused to step down.

Smith was expelled from office in August, but he remains on the Nov. 6 ballot in a safely Democratic district. If he wins, he can hold office because Illinois law only allows someone to be expelled once.